Hawthorne Municipal Code Ch. 13.08 Water Rates and Charges

The following words and phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall be construed as defined in this section:

"Battery of meters"

means a metering installation consisting of two or more meters operated in parallel as a substitute for a single large meter.

"Consumer"

means any person, public or private corporation, the United States, the state, any country or any governmental agency, who uses, or is entitled to use, water from the department, except the city of Hawthorne.

"Department"

means the water division of the public works department of the city.

"Premises"

means all real property and apparatus employed in a single enterprise on an integral parcel of land undivided by public highways, railways, streets or alleys.

"Superintendent"

means the superintendent of the water department of the city.

(Prior code § 14-100; Ord. 1577 §§ 3, 4, 1994)

The rates to be charged and collected by the department for water supplied in any one month for domestic, commercial and industrial service within the city shall be as set forth in the following schedule:

A. Minimum Monthly Charges. Minimum monthly charges will be as set forth in a resolution of the city council establishing said rates.

B. All water service shall be charged and collected at the rate established by resolution of the city council except as set forth in paragraph C herein below.

C. For three-fourths inch meters, a monthly water allowance of four hundred cubic feet of water is included in the minimum monthly charge. However, once the monthly water allowance has been exceeded, the minimum monthly charge shall be applied and all water consumed shall be charged and collected at the rate currently established by resolution of the city council.

D. Certain areas not within the corporate boundaries of the city are provided service by the water department. The city council finds that these areas create administrative problems not found in those areas within the corporate boundaries of the city. Accordingly, a service charge of one dollar per meter per month shall be charged in addition to the above rates to all users of the Hawthorne water service located outside the corporate boundaries of the city.

E. The monthly billing shall be the sum of the applicable water charges, but shall not be less than the minimum monthly charge as indicated in this section.

(Ord. 1125 § 5, 1976; Ord. 1302 §§ 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 1984; Ord. 1447 §§ 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 1988; Ord. 1487 §§ 4, 6, 1989; Ord. 1577 §§ 5—11, 1994)

A. Applicability. The service provided herein shall be applicable only for temporary service as may be available at the discretion of the department to any consumer for construction purposes or for other purposes of limited duration.

B. Each applicant for temporary service shall be required to pay a meter installation charge and refundable deposit. The amount of said charge and deposit will be as determined by water department policy. All water used through temporary meters shall be charged at the current rate per one hundred cubic feet plus the monthly minimum service charge.

C. Refundable Deposit. Each applicant for temporary service shall also be required to deposit with the department a sum of five hundred fifty dollars to guarantee return of the meter and payment for water used. All water used through the meter shall be charged at the current rate per one hundred cubic feet plus the monthly minimum service charge.

(Ord. 1507 § 2, 1990; Ord. 1577 §§ 12, 13, 1994)

The rates to be charged and collected by the water department for furnishing and supplying water and service for private fire lines in any one month within the city shall be set by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 1577 §§ 14, 15, 1994)

The charges to be made and collected by the water department for new water service charges shall be the basic cost of the installation, as calculated by the water department superintendent, plus fifteen percent to cover administrative overhead.

The department will furnish and install, and thereafter maintain, all equipment and materials for the service and meter installation, and title to all such equipment and materials shall remain for all time in the city. Meters shall be installed on all connections furnished except as herein provided. A separate meter shall be placed upon each separate connection and the rate to be paid shall be computed separately upon each meter. Consumers shall be held responsible and charged for all water passing through their meters. All city water used on any premises where meter is installed must pass through the meter except as provided in the case of private fire service. No person shall install or maintain any bypass or connection around the meter between the service and the main.

(Ord. 1577 §§ 16, 17, 1994)

In the event of any dispute as to rate or rates to be paid by the consumer, the city manager shall determine which of the water rate schedules, rates or conditions is applicable to the case.

(Prior code § 14-105)

The superintendent may establish and enforce charges for furnishing and supply water and water service to any installation of a character not adequately provided for in this chapter, provided that such charges shall be consistent with the rates and charges prescribed by this service.

(Ord. 1577 §§ 18, 19, 1994)

A. In general, meter readings will be made each two months. However, at the option of the department, meter readings may be made at intervals other than two months. If the interval between such meter readings is other than two months, or in the case of opening and closing bills, the billing for such period shall be determined as follows:

1. If such interval is a multiple of two months, by dividing the consumption of water during such interval by the number of months in such interval, and thereupon calculating the charges for each such month, treating the quotient thus obtained as having been the actual consumption during each of said months;

2. If such interval is neither two months nor a multiple of two months, by dividing the consumption of water during such interval by a fraction whereof the numerator shall be the number of days in such interval and the denominator shall be sixty, and thereupon calculating the charges for each full sixty days of such interval, treating the quotient thus obtained as having been the actual consumption during each of such sixty-day periods, and treating the remainder as having been the actual consumption during the fractional part of two months prorating any minimum charge and/or service charge for such fractional part on a monthly basis, except where provided otherwise in the rate schedules.

B. For the purpose of computing charges, each meter upon the consumer's premises will be considered separately, and readings of two or more meters will not be combined as equivalent to measurement through one meter. On the first regular billing date following application for service the consumer shall be rendered a water bill equivalent to the minimum bimonthly water charge. All water consumption exceeding the maximum allowances as per schedule shall be billed in accordance with the rates provided for by Section 13.08.020. Closing water bills shall be computed per diem or by consumption, and bills rendered for the greater amount except that no bill shall be rendered, nor the account debited, when the charges are less than one dollar.

(Prior code § 14-107)

Bills, except as provided otherwise in the schedules, are due and payable on presentation and become delinquent fifteen days after presentation, and, if not paid upon becoming delinquent, the water service may be turned off without further notice.

(Prior code § 14-108)

Whenever the city receives a check which is returned marked "insufficient funds" or "account closest," or by any such entry which indicates that the check will not be paid, the customer shall pay an additional fee as determined by the policy of the city treasurer.

(Ord. 1577 §§ 20, 21, 1994)

The superintendent may prescribe from time to time as he deems necessary or desirable, rules and regulations, not in conflict with this chapter, relating to conditions of service and application, administration and/or interpretation of rates and relating to other provisions set forth herein.

(Ord. 1577 §§ 22, 23, 1994)

On failure to comply with the rules and regulations of the department, or to pay rates, or to comply with any charge or penalties imposed for such failure as herein provided, water service may be turned off until the rules and regulations are complied with and/or payment is made of the amount due or any penalties, if any, and in addition thereto, at the discretion of the department, the sum of fifty dollars for the expense of turning the service off and on. In the event the consumer turns on the water service or suffers or causes it to be turned on after it has been turned off for any of the above reasons, the department may again turn off the water service, remove the meter, and may charge and collect sixty dollars plus cost of restoring meter in addition to other amounts due from the consumer before water service is restored. In case the consumer's service is discontinued for non-payment of bill for water service, or where notice of discontinuance for nonpayment of bill has been given, the department may require the consumer to reestablish his credit by the making of a cash deposit as provided herein. Interest at the rate of five percent per month or one dollar, whichever is greater, shall be charged on accounts which are delinquent. Accounts shall be delinquent if payment of the amount due for any service period is not received within thirty days of the end of the service period.

(Ord. 1577 §§ 24, 25, 1994)

The regular minimum rate shall be charged and collected from every consumer whether water is used or not, unless the department is notified in writing of the fact that the property is unoccupied and is requested to cut off water therefrom.

(Prior code § 14-111)

If a meter fails to register during any period or is known to register inaccurately, the consumer shall be charged with an average daily consumption at same season, as shown by the meter when in use and registering accurately.

(Prior code § 14-112)

The city council delegates and assigns to the water department superintendent the duty to adjust complaints, and to grant rebates in proper cases.

(Ord. 1577 §§ 26, 27, 1994)